“Tell them to hold their ground,” Blaize stated firmly.
The messenger saluted and hurried back down the stairs.
“This is ridiculous,” Blaize stated. “These galdaks are as mortal as any human. If you bury a blade in them, they’ll die. Even so, if the troops don’t believe it, we’re in trouble. Traven, would you mind helping out?”
“Sure,” Traven said.
“Can you send a few fireballs or bolts of lightning at the group of galdaks? Hopefully, our troops will gain courage from remembering that we have a wielder with us.”
He concentrated on the center of the group of galdaks and formed several lightning bolts. One after another, the bright bolts of lightning split the dark sky and slammed into the attackers. As the blinding light and deafening booms faded, there was a brief pause in the battle. Then the galdaks surged forward once again with renewed ferocity and determination.
“I can keep doing it for awhile,” he said. “But I’m not sure if it will be enough to deter the creatures. It seems like it just made them angrier.”
“Are you up for a fight?” Blaize asked with an excited gleam in his eyes. “I might as well get down there and show the men how it’s done.”
Traven turned to Darian with a questioning gaze. The elf nodded his acceptance with an excited gleam in his eyes as well. Traven felt his stomach knot as he rested his hand on his sword. Here was his chance to do some real fighting in a battle. It was what he had trained for long before he knew he was a wielder.
“Let’s do it,” he stated.
The group of three hurried down the stairs and through the east gate. Blaize led them with a quick trot towards the hottest part of the battle. A few soldiers recognized their leader as he passed and began following the small group. Traven felt his adrenaline pumping as his heartbeat thundered loudly in his ears. He was full of excitement and fear. This was the first time he had ever charged into battle.
Blaize reached back over his shoulders and grabbed his swords as they neared the front lines of the battle. Darian unsheathed his blade silently as Traven’s sword leapt from its scabbard into his hand. In front of him, he finally got his first close look at the galdaks. They were frightening to say the least. All of the galdaks appeared taller than him and were broad of shoulder. They had little armor or clothing on to cover their deep red skin. Most were fighting with huge, sometimes jagged swords, and their eyes shone an eerie yellow in the darkness. The only human who matched their size seemed to be Blaize. Traven was glad to have him at their lead.
Blaize raised his swords and let loose a powerful battle cry as he picked up speed and raced straight towards the nearest galdak. Traven braced himself for the impact and followed close at his heels. Blaize blocked the creature’s sword with one of his own and felled the beast with a powerful swipe of his other. It appeared his previous statement was completely accurate. Blaize jumped over his defeated opponent and engaged another galdak.
Traven ducked as a galdak took a swipe at his head and quickly dispatched the large creature. Another was immediately upon him. He easily blocked the galdak’s swipe at him but shuddered with the impact of the force. He then dropped his attacker with two quick swipes of his own. The galdaks were certainly strong, but they were not very quick. He speedily defeated several more galdaks before looking around.
Darian dispatched of a particularly large galdak and smiled at Traven. It appeared he was enjoying himself and having no trouble. Blaize was slowly backing up towards them. Three enormous galdaks were advancing against him as one. Traven concentrated and sent three spears of ice flying into the chest of each creature. Blaize looked around with surprise as all three fell to the ground. His eyes locked on Traven.
“Thanks,” he said. “It would be easier if I could see my surroundings. I almost feel like I’m blind.”
Traven realized that although he wasn’t having any difficulties seeing in the darkness, the majority of the Kalian soldiers probably were. He glanced over his shoulder and located three large tents. They suddenly burst into flames. The flickering light of the fires effectively illuminated the immediate area.
“That’s much better,” Blaize said with a grin before charging forward towards the squinting galdaks.
It was apparent the darkness had given the galdaks a significant advantage. The tables were now turned. With the lights of the fires at their backs, the Kalian soldiers could clearly see their enemies while the galdaks were momentarily blinded by the bright flames. Traven quickly lit all of the tents at the edge of the encampment on fire, illuminating the battlefield.
He then charged forward after Blaize with Darian at his side. The galdaks fell easily before the three master swordsmen. They continued pushing deeper into the ranks of the galdaks, leaving a trail of death behind them. Traven became lost in the dance of swords. He fell into a meditative trance, shutting out the clamor of battle. He could feel every strike before it happened as the air shifted and swirled. He dodged. He blocked. He slashed. Another opponent lay at his feet. On and on the pattern continued.
His trance was broken as a group of horsemen thundered past him. He paused and watched them drive all the way to the rear of the galdak horde and turn to make another pass. He was surprised to recognize Gavin leading them. The galdaks turned upon their new attackers with increased ferocity. Traven glanced across the battlefield. It appeared that the Kalian soldiers had stopped the galdaks’ progress and were finally pushing the creatures back. The tide of the battle had turned.
He watched as the cavalry rode back through the battle. The galdaks were more prepared for the second pass, and several leapt into the air, knocking some of the riders to the ground. He cringed as more and more of the cavalry were knocked off their mounts. As the horsemen neared him, he watched as Gavin was knocked from his steed and fell to the ground in the midst of the galdaks.
In the heat of the battle, with the blood roiling in his veins, a jealous feeling of satisfaction flitted through his mind. He immediately shrugged the thought away and ran towards the spot where Gavin had landed. Fireballs sprang from his hands and knocked two galdaks near Gavin backwards to the ground. Traven sliced through several others before he planted his feet firmly at Gavin’s side. Darian leapt over the body of a galdak and came to rest next to him.
They quickly cleared the immediate area of the threatening monsters. Traven then dropped to his knee next to Kalista’s fiancé while Darian kept the other galdaks from getting too close. Gavin had a cut on his head but wasn’t bleeding very badly. Traven pulled out the healing stone and held it over the vice baron’s wound. The stone glowed briefly before returning to its normal state. The wound had been minor. Gavin sat up with a disoriented look as Traven slipped the stone back into his pocket.
“Can you stand?” he asked.
“Of course I can,” Gavin replied as he pushed himself to his feet. He immediately unsheathed his sword. “I’m ready.”
Traven looked at Darian and moved his head slightly in Gavin’s direction. Darian nodded in understanding. The elf was to keep an eye on Gavin and make sure he was safe. Blaize made his way over to the three of them with a grin.
“Don’t just stand there,” the large warrior bellowed. He was covered in splotches of blood, but none of it appeared to be his own. “We have a battle to win.”
The four commenced carving another path through the ranks of the galdaks. Traven continued his dance of death. A slash, a duck, a strike. A strike, a turn, a slash. Each time he defeated a galdak, another appeared to take its place. He fell back into his trance and efficiently cut down one galdak after another.
The battle dragged on throughout the dark night. It seemed as though there was an infinite number of the beasts. He continued to cut down one right after another. More slashing, more dodging, and more striking. He began to wonder if the galdaks would ever retreat. His muscles were tiring, but he kept fighting on. Eventually, there were less and less of the creatures, and then, there were none.
> Traven took several deep breaths as he scanned the field, searching for any remaining galdaks. It appeared that only the Kalian soldiers were left standing. He shook his head in wonder. It looked as though none of the galdaks had retreated. The ground was littered with their corpses. The beasts had continued fighting until every last one was killed. He stuck his bloodied sword into the ground and leaned against it, exhausted. The stench of death was heavy all around him. Darian stepped up next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. Traven didn’t see Gavin anywhere.
“He’s fine,” Darian said, answering the unspoken question. “Keeping him alive kept me busy. He headed back to the palace about ten minutes ago.”
“Thank you.”
“I kept an eye on you as well,” the elf stated. “But it looked as though you did not need any help. I think you killed several hundred galdaks all by yourself.”
Traven shook his head in denial, but Darian nodded in the affirmative without a hint of exaggeration. Had he really fought that many? He watched as Blaize made his way towards them. The large warrior looked exhausted but free of any serious injuries.
“I guess you have been practicing,” Blaize stated. “I think you could’ve taken on the entire horde of galdaks by yourself.”
Traven took a closer look at his surroundings. The bodies of galdaks littering the ground did appear to be much thicker and deeper around him than the rest of the battlefield. He also realized that a large number of soldiers were standing motionlessly and staring at him from a distance. He closed his eyes. He didn’t like the thought of how many lives he had ended, even if they had been enemies. He felt queasy and didn’t know if it was because of the realization of what he had done or because he was so tired.
“Let’s head back to the palace,” he said to Darian as he opened his eyes. “Maybe we can still get a little sleep.”
“That’s a good idea,” Blaize said. “There’s no reason for you to stick around here. You need to get as much rest as you can. I have a feeling this attack was only a precursor of what’s to come.”
Traven nodded in agreement as he bent down and cleaned his sword. The attack hadn’t come from the supposed main horde of galdaks that were being shielded from his view. The hidden horde was still at least a full day away. He would need all of his strength when they arrived.
“Good luck,” he said to Blaize as he turned and began walking back towards the city. As the commander general, Blaize still had a long night ahead of him.
“You’re a good man,” Darian stated.
“What?” he asked tiredly as he stepped over the lifeless body of yet another galdak. He had no idea what had prompted Darian’s statement.
“You could have been rid of competition for the princess’ affection,” the elf explained.
“Oh,” Traven replied as he realized what Darian meant. He couldn’t deny that the thought had briefly passed through his mind. “I was just fulfilling my duty.”
“You did more than that,” Darian replied. “You were in the midst of battle. All you had to do was continue to defend yourself. The vice baron wasn’t your responsibility.”
Traven turned to his faithful companion with a smile and nodded. It seemed that Darian never missed anything. Traven had made a choice when he saved Gavin, and he was glad he had done it.
* * * * *
Blaize watched as Traven and Darian picked their way through the carnage. Traven moved heavily with his shoulders drooping. Darian, still concealed in his cloak, nimbly walked along at his master’s side. As much as he didn’t understand the elf or his motivations, he was glad that Traven had the elf’s companionship and support. Much would be expected of the young wielder, even more so after his amazing show of sword work.
Blaize himself was astounded at what he had just seen. It seemed as though the galdaks had sensed that the young man was the largest threat to them. Just after Traven had saved Gavin, the creatures had begun focusing on the young wielder and streaming towards him. It had been incredibly beneficial for the army as a whole. With the galdaks focused on Traven, the soldiers had been able to regroup and attack in an organized and efficient manner.
At first, he had been worried for Traven, but the young man’s performance had awed him and quieted his fears. The large, strong galdaks had appeared to be moving in slow motion as they tried to cut down Traven. The young wielder’s sword had flashed with blinding speed and deadly accuracy. His quickness and uncanny ability to easily avoid every attack brought against him had left his attackers impotent.
For the last stretch of the battle, Blaize had joined with the surrounding soldiers in watching with awe as Traven dispatched all of the remaining galdaks. It had truly been a sight to behold. Pride had swelled within his breast as he watched his onetime pupil demonstrate an almost inhuman mastery of the sword. He had known for a long time that Traven was special, but the young man still continued to amaze him.
Blaize grimaced as he turned from watching Traven walk away and looked out over the battlefield. The small force of galdaks had taken a great toll on the army. He didn’t want to think of what might have happened if Traven hadn’t been there. He would have to wait for an official count, but it appeared he had lost over half of his twenty thousand troops camped outside the city. A cold lump settled in the pit of his stomach. Much needed to be done to prepare for the impending attack of the main horde. His work for the night had only just begun.
9
“Master.”
Traven sat up groggily and opened his eyes. He wasn’t sure how much sleep he had received, but it hadn’t been enough.
“What is it, Darian?”
“General Commander Blaize is in the antechamber. He is anxious to speak with you.”
“I’ll be out in a minute,” Traven said.
Darian stepped back out into the front room and closed the door. Traven rolled out of bed and got dressed. He splashed some water on his face and tried to fully wake up. He wished Blaize had let him sleep in longer, but he knew his friend had surely gotten even less sleep. Whatever he needed Traven for, it must be important. He rubbed his eyes and pushed open his door.
Blaize and Darian were sitting next to one another discussing the night’s battle. They both looked tired. Blaize had a slight gash across his left forearm and a small scrape on his cheek, but those appeared to be the full extent of his injuries.
“How do you feel?” Traven asked.
“Great,” Blaize said with a smirk. “I lost ten thousand men last night and didn’t get to sleep until the sun was beginning to lighten the sky. I was woken up two hours later with reports that the main horde of galdaks is more numerous than imagined.”
“How many are there?”
“Hundreds of thousands,” Blaize replied. “At least that’s what the scouts say. I find it hard to believe there could be so many galdaks. Where did they all come from?”
“There’s no telling how many there were hiding in the Parched Mountains,” Darian interjected. “It seems like an exaggerated number, but it is possible.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Blaize said. “I was hoping you would try screeing the approaching horde again. Maybe this time we’ll be able to see it and get a clearer idea of what we’ll be facing.”
“I’ll give it a try,” Traven responded. “But I can’t promise anything. I’m not sure there’s anything I can do if another wielder blocks me.”
He went back into his room to retrieve the washbasin. When he returned, Darian was already finishing shuttering all the windows. Traven wondered if the effort of screeing was worth it but supposed that at the very least they would have a good idea of the horde’s progress. He set down the basin, waited for the water to settle, and pulled up an image of the countryside to the east of Calyn.
Surprisingly, there didn’t appear to be any obstruction to his screeing at all. He enlarged the image and froze with amazement. The scouts had not exaggerated. The horde of galdaks was gigantic. It indeed appeared that there were hundre
ds of thousands of the creatures.
Beside him, Blaize expelled a heavy and frustrated breath of air. The camp of the galdaks stretched all the way between the two small villages closest to Calyn. Traven enhanced the image and moved it back and forth over the enormous galdak camp. Most of the tents were set up haphazardly not far from the highway. There seemed to be large concentrations of tents scattered throughout the length of the camp, and it looked as if there were smaller camps within the main group.
As he moved the image towards the nearest village, the placement of tents became more organized and uniform. Apparently, there were different levels of discipline within the horde of galdaks. He was about to let the image disappear when he noticed a point of light emanating from one of the houses in the center of the village. He focused on the light and enlarged the house.
“What’s so important about that structure?” Blaize asked.
“I was curious where the light was coming from.”
“What light?” Blaize asked with raised eyebrows.
“Right there,” he replied as he pointed at it.
Traven watched as Blaize looked to Darian. The elf shrugged in response. It was obvious he couldn’t see the light either. At first Traven wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but suddenly he realized what was going on. He was seeing the aura of the enemy wielder. It would only be visible to another wielder such as himself.
“Sorry,” he said with a chuckle. “The wielder with the horde of galdaks is inside that house. I can see his aura.”
The explanation left Blaize just as confused, but Darian smiled.
“Oh,” the elf said with a chuckle of his own. “That makes sense. Should we take a look at him?”
“Why not,” Traven replied.
He slowly enhanced the image and passed through the roof of the home. His eyes grew wide at the sight. An incredibly old looking galdak lay sleeping in the midst of a pile of furs. A dull aura of light glowed around the bony, wrinkled figure. The wielder wasn’t human. He was a galdak. Traven looked at Darian.
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